KU’s stem cell center having first educational conference

The inaugural educational conference of Kansas University's new stem cell center will be Nov. 23 in Kansas City, Mo.

The event, aimed at researchers and health care professionals, is being sponsored by the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center at the KU Medical Center.

The center was created earlier this year through legislation backed by lawmakers who oppose abortion and by the lobbying group Family Research Council. Gov. Sam Brownback signed it into law.

The center will work on adult stem cell, cord blood and related stem cell research, providing therapies to patients and serving as a clearinghouse for physicians on cutting-edge treatments.

The center is prohibited from using embryonic stem cells or cells taken from aborted fetal tissue. Abortion opponents object to human embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of the embryo.

While KU officials had never asked for the center, Republican legislators allocated $2 million over two years to it while also cutting the general higher education budget by $33 million.

Kansans For Life put out a new release touting the conference, saying, "What was once a dream is now a reality." The conference will be held at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.